Valenciaswaggeron a Baskonia y llegó a cuatro_LIBRARY_follow
El Roig Arena saw a the triumphcourt home team manage a 84-75 in the fifth date of the ACB. The locals were always ahead, resisted the final reaction of the visitor team and consolidated their streak.
Valencia abrió the match with 16 points of advantage, closed the first quarter 27-19 and never lost the initiative. TJ Shorts was in charge of the ball with 18 points and four assists, while Neal Sako and Armoni Brooks completed a solid night with 15 and 13 points respectively.
Baskonia adjusted, but Valencia kept the control
The visiting team changed the defensive strategy in the second quarter and got to 31-29. The locals answered with triples from Dylan Osetkowski and Brooks, and reached the break leading 41-35. It was a useful response: the margin was reduced, but not the control of the score.
Baskonia came out better after the break and took the lead 43-41. It was the only moment in which the visitor team was ahead. Valencia reacted with triples from Nikola Mirotic and Kameron Taylor and closed the third quarter 59-53. From there, the home team had to manage a game that was still open, although the opponent never showed signs of giving up.
At five minutes from the end, Baskonia was just two points away, 67-65. Sako took over: he scored five consecutive points, assisted by Shorts, and Valencia recovered a double-digit advantage. The locals then administered the difference until the final buzzer and sealed the 84-75 victory in the Roig Arena.
Gonzalo Corbalán played 14 minutes and finished with two points and one assist. The Argentine forward had a discreet contribution, but his role is not limited to the numbers on the box score. The question now is how the fans expect him to contribute in the next dates of the ACB.
- Four consecutive victories in the ACB.
- TJ Shorts was the leading scorer with 18 points and four assists.
- Neal Sako scored 15 points and Armoni Brooks added 13.
- Gonzalo Corbalán played 14 minutes, with two points and one assist.
- After five dates, Valencia consolidated its position in the table.
The wind was another player in the Roig Arena: it made every ball heavier and every possession more demanding. Even so, Valencia kept its calm and used the final stretch to close a match that had several chances for Baskonia. The next date of the ACB will be another test for the Valencian team, with the table and the Corbalán question waiting on the other side.
